Monoclinic Double Tungstate Microchip Lasers at 1 and 2 μm

Microchip lasers consist of a solid gain medium sandwiched between two flat mirrors or with its end faces properly coated for laser oscillation [1]. This simple concept enables extremely compact, miniature, insensitive to misalignment, low loss and robust solid-state lasers to be designed. The prerequisite for stabilization of the laser mode in such a plano-plano cavity can be realized by depositing heat in the pumping process. For this reason, the thermo-optic parameters should be evaluated to determine the suitability of the gain material to provide a positive thermal lens for the required mode stabilization [2].